THE Health Ministry today promoted the use of an app that allows users to carry out Covid-19 self-assessments and to notify them if they are near an infection zone.

Director-general of health Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah today promoted the use of the MySejahtera app, which features a “hotspot tracker” that informs users when they are within 1km of such zones.

The app also can identify nearby hospitals and clinics where Covid-19 tests are available, and FAQs on what to do if a person is infected with the coronavirus.

Users can also help assess family members who may not have smartphones, Noor Hisham said, adding that the app will be updated from time to time.

Noor Hisham said another Covid-19 app – MyTrace – can also be linked with MySejahtera.

MyTrace is a contact-tracing app that uses Bluetooth to measure proximity with other MyTrace users.

If a MyTrace user is diagnosed with Covid-19, the app can be used to assist detection of who might have contracted it from them.

The MySejahtera app was launched early last month to assist data collection on the spread of Covid-19. It then featured only self-assessment quizzes.

Both apps are managed by the Health Ministry, with the approval of the National Security Council. – May 4, 2020.